PORTFOLIO 13: Research on Anxiety Disorders/Depression

1. What is depression?
Depression is a mental health condition that causes a chronic feeling of emptiness,
sadness, or inability to feel pleasure that may appear to happen for no clear reason. It is
a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and loss of joy.
It is different from the mood fluctuations that people regularly experience as a part of
life.

2. Who gets depression and how common are they?

People experiencing certain life events, such as bereavement, work issues, changes
in relationships, financial problems, and medical concerns, experiencing acute stress,
having a lack of successful coping strategies, using some prescription drugs, such as
corticosteroids, certain beta-blockers, and interferon, using recreational drugs, such as
alcohol or amphetamines, having sustained a head injury, having a neurodegenerative
disease such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, having had a previous episode of major
depression, having a chronic condition, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), or cardiovascular disease, living with chronic pain, and lacking social
support are most likely to be depressed. Depression is common. According to the World
Health Organization (WHO), about 280 million people worldwide have depression,
including 5% of the world’s adults and 5.7% of adults above age 60.

3. Describe some of the symptoms of depression?

Depression can cause a range of psychological and physical symptoms, including
persistent depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities,
changes in appetite and body weight, unusually slow or agitated movements, decreased
energy or fatigue, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, excessive feelings of guilt or
worthlessness, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, thoughts of death or
suicide, or suicide attempts. If a person experience five or more of these symptoms
during the same 2-week period, a doctor may diagnose them with depression.
Depression may also cause other symptoms, including irritability, restlessness, chronic
pain, and digestive issues.

4. List and briefly explain some of the main types of depression?

Major depression - A person living with major depression experiences a constant
state of sadness. They may lose interest in activities they used to enjoy.
Persistent depressive disorder - Also known as dysthymia, causes symptoms that last
for at least 2 years.
Postpartum depression - After giving birth, some people experience a brief period of
sadness or heightened emotions that some people
call the “baby blues.”
Postpartum depression - or postnatal depression, is more severe. There is no single
cause for this type of depression, and it can persist
for months or years. Anyone who experiences ongoing
depression after delivery should seek medical
attention.
Major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern - Also known as seasonal affective
disorder (SAD), this
usually follow other seasonal
patterns. It lifts during the
rest of the year and in
response to light therapy.

5. What type of treatment is available for people experiencing depression?

There are many types of treatment for depression such as medication, natural
remedies such as herbal medicines, non-herbal supplements, food and diet, eating fruit,
vegetables, fish, and olive oil, psychotherapy or talking therapies for depression like
CBT, interpersonal psychotherapy, and problem-solving, exercise, and brain stimulation
therapies.

6. What other kinds of support can help a person with depression recover?
We can help person with depression recover through moral support. The best thing
you can do for someone with depression is to be there for them because they need
someone to talk to, to share their problems with, and someone that will listen to them.
Someone that will support their recovery.